Interlocking runner connection



Dec. 6, 1966 M. D. JAHN 3,20,075

INTERLOCKING RUNNER CONNECTION Filed Jan. 20, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 -l v w g flz/azgfor.

( f/animal). Jfia Dec. 6, 1966 D,JAHN 3,290,075

INTERLOCKING RUNNER CONNECTION Filed Jan. 20, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,290,075 INTERLOCKING RUNNER CONNECTION Martin D. Jahn, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Me tallic Sash Co., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 338,858

12 Claims. (Cl.'287-189.36)

The invention relates generally to an interlocking runner construction for use in suspended ceiling systems and the like. i

The present invention has among its objects the pro.- duction of a runner joint for connecting an end of one runner to an intermediate portion of a cooperable runner, without the use of clips, pins or other separable fastener elements, the parts interlocking with a snap action to effectively join the runners in assembled relation.

Another object of the invention is an interlocking type of, joint construction wherein the interlocking action rnay take place with the runners extending in more or less a common plane, whereby the end portion of one runner may be moved substantially axially into an enga-geable position with the vcross runner and interlocked by a slight transverse movement relative to the cross runner, eliminating angular interlocking movements 'between the runners as required in many other types of interlocking designs.

A further object of the invention is the construction of a runner having the above features which may be readily adapted for use in fire rated suspended ceiling systems wherein the runners are constructed to permit expansion movement therebetween.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a runner construction which may be readily produced by current methods and apparatus without extensive changes.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the end portions of two runners interconnected with a cross runner, with portions of the runners broken away to show the details of the connection;

FIG. 2 is asectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is 'a'transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of FIG. 1; i i FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the same line as FIG. 3, but illustrating a portion of only the cross runner;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, but illustrating the positioning of the end portion of a runner immediately prior to its being interlocked in operative position corresponding: to that illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the end portion of a runner such as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the runner illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view generally similar to FIG. 2 of a modified runner construction, the end portion of the runnerbeing illustrated in an intermediate position prior to the interlocking thereof, corresponding substantially to the position illustrate-d in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 8, illustrating the end portion of one runner interlocked with the cross runner, the relationship gene-rally approximating that illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the cross runner illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cross runner being adapted to receive the end portion of a single runner; and FIG. 11 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 10,

illustrating a construction of a cross runner adapted to receive the end portions of two runners similar to the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1.

The present invention contemplates the production of a runner joint in which the ends of one or two runners may be interlocked with a transversely extending cross runner to firmly secure the runners in assembled relation Without the use of separate elements such as wire clips or the like. The interlocking elements are so designed that assembly and interlocking of the runners may be effected with the runners disposed with their longitudinal axes extending in the same directions that they would normally extend in the completed assembly. Thus the runners, throughout the assembly operation, may be maintained in a generally horizontal position, the interlocking being effected in two movements, the first being an axial movement of the runner end to be interlocked toward the cross runner and when in desired position the two may be firmly interlocked by a relatively slight movement between the two runners in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axes of the runners.

More particularly the construction enables the runners to be properly positioned insofar as their axial directions are concerned, corresponding to their final assembled relation but in slightly vertical oflset position, following which relative movement is elfected between the runners in a direction to eliminate such offset relationship and thereby bring the runners into their final assembled positions. Undesired disassembly of the runners is prevented by cooperable interlocking means on the runners.

In its preferred form, the construction is such that the runner may be employed in a so-called fire rated system in conjunction with other elements, to permit expansion of the runner structure upon the application of heat thereto, resulting from a fire therebelow.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 7, FIG. 1 illustrates the connection of two axially aligned runners 1a and 1b, with a cross runner 1c, the runners all being of similar general construction, having a cross sectional shape as illustrated in FIG. 2 comprising a body or web portion 2 which is adapted to extend vertically to form a central stem or web and terminating at its upper longitudinal edge in a tubular reinforcing bead 3. Formed at the lower longitudinal edge of the web portion 2 is a flange or base portion 4 which extends at opposite sides of a portion 2 and forms the outer exposed face of the runner.

.In' the form illustrated, the flange or base portion 4 is intergrally formed with the web or stem portion 2, the metal forming the same being bent at right angles as indicated at 5 and then folded back upon itself as indicated at 6, the free edge of the flange being folded back upon itself, as indicated at 7 to provide a reinforcing edge strip 8. In some other forms commonly employed, the web portion 2 is of double thickness, the bead 3 being formed in an intermediate portion of the stock. forming the runner, in which case the base portion 4 is formed by aligned oppositely directed flanges extending from the.

lower edge 'of each of the web portions and generally corresponding to the outwardly directed portion indicated by the numeral 5 in FIG. 2. Insuch case the base portion is normally covered with a suitable cap strip having its longitudinal edges wrapped around the adjacent edges of the base portion. As will herein after be apparent, the invention is equally applicable to either type of runner structure and the specific details of the latter thus form no part of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the web portion 2 of the cross runner 1c is provided with a generally vertically extending slot 9 of generally rectangular configuration, having parallel vertically extending side edges 11 and horizontal- 1y extending top and bottom edges 12. Also formed at opposite sides of the slot 9 is a pair of generally triangular-shaped projections 13 having substantially horizontally extending bottom edges 14 and inclined side edges 15.

The runners 1a and 1b are of identical construction and are each formed at their ends with a longitudinally extending tongue 16a or 16b which is offset from the Web portion 2 as indicated at 17, with the tongue extending in a plane substantially parallel to the web portion. To facilitate the identification of certain portions of the respective tongues in the figures of the assembled runners, parts of the runners will be identified, in addition to the reference numeral, with a suffix letter corresponding to that identifying the particular runners. As clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, each tongue 16 is provided with a notch 18 in the lower edge thereof, forming a downwardly extending tab or projection 19 at the outer end of the tongue, the edge of the tongue defining one side of the notch 18 extending generally vertical, while the opposite edge 22 of the notch extends angularly downwardly and rearwardly.

Formed from the tongue 16 and extending upwardly and outwardly from its junction therewith is a locking tab 23, the latter being formed by making a generally inverted U-shaped cut in the tongue 16 and bending the upper end of the tab so formed outwardly out of the plane of the tongue, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the tongue 16 is also provided with a pair of circular bosses or beads 24 which extend laterally outward from the tongue at the side thereof opposite to that from which the tab 23 extends. Also in this embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing bead 3 is formed with an extension 25 thereon which is adapted in the assembled structure to abut the bead 3 of the cross runner 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the extension 25 being provided with a pair of generally triangular shaped notches 26 therein at which the extension is adapted to deform upon the application of heat thereto to permit expansion movement of the runners 1a and 1b toward the cross runner 10.

In assembling the construction illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, the tongue 16 of the runner may be inserted into the slot 9 by longitudinal movement, the slot being slightly longer than the height of the tongue 16, measured from the bottom edge of the projection 19 to the top edge of the tongue, so that the slot will readily receive the tongue 1 by a longitudinal movement of the runner and associated tongue toward the cross runner, the tongue being inserted until the end edge of the base flange 4 is substantially aligned with the web portion 2 of the cross runner. At this point the runners will assume a position substantially as illustrated in FIG. 5, following which the runner 1b, as viewed in FIG. 5, may be moved downwardly relative to the runner 10 to the position illustrated therefore in FIGS. 2 and 3, with the upper free edge of the tab 23b disposed directly below the horizontally extending edge 14 of the adjacent projection 13. The tongue 16a of the other runner 111 may then be inserted alongside of the tongue 16b of the runner 1b with its locking tab 231: disposed at the adjacent inclined edge 15 generally corresponding to the position illustrated in FIG. and the runner 1a then moved longitudinally toward the runner 1c until the notch 18a on the tongue 16a is aligned with the web 2 of the cross runner 10, following which the runner 1a may be brought into assembled relation, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, by a downward vertical movement relative to the cross runner. The locking tab 23 of the runner 1a will be cammed inwardly by the edge 15 of the adjacent projection 13 and as the tab clears such projection it will spring outwardly to the position illustrated in FIG. 3, locking beneath the edge 14 of the projection 13. Simultaneously with this movement, the bosses or beads 24 on the runners will ride up on one another, as will be apparent from a reference to FIG. 3.

The bosses 24 enable the use of a slightly wider slot 9 and facilitate the engagement of the second tongue, providing a degree of clearance as the second tongue is initially inserted into the slot, facilitating the easy assembly of the structure, and as the bosses have only a fraction of the thickness of that of the metal forming the tongues, they may be readily brought into superimposition without difficulty. As will be apparent from a reference to FIG. 3, the bosses provide a firm interlocking between the parts and thus provide a very rigid joint assembly, having substantially no play between the parts. However, advantages of the invention may be obtained in a construction which does not include such beads.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be appreciated that when the runners are assembled, with the flange base portions 4 of t he runners disposed in a common plane and the ends of the aligned runners 1a and 1b abutting the corresponding side edges of the flange 4 of the cross runner 10, as well as the abutting of the ends of the extensions 25 of the beads 3 of such runners abutting the bead 3 of the cross runner, movement of the runner ends toward the cross runner is prevented and at the same time the edge 21 of the projection 19 on each tongue prevents a separating movement of the associated runner relative to the cross runner. Likewise, the locking tabs 23 normally prevent upward movement of the runner tongues relative to the cross runner to thereby prevent disengagement of the projection 19 with the web 2 of the cross runner, and thus rigidly locking the parts in assembled relation, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

However, in the event excessive heat is applied to the suspension system, as for example resulting from a fire below the ceiling system, upon expansion of the runners 1a and 1b the extensions 25 may readily buckle, in turn creating the application of considerable longitudinal expansion forces on the tongues 16 as well as upward movement as the inclined edge 22 of the tongues begins to ride or cam on the bottom edge 12 of the slot 9. As upward movement of the tongue continues, the stresses will be sufiicient to deform the associated locking tabs 23, the projections 13, or both, to permit upward movement of the tongue relative to the cross runner 1c and as soon as the end edge of the flange portion 4 of the runners 1a and 1b clear the flange 4 of the cross runner, each runner end may then move inwardly toward the cross runner to ac: commodate such expansion. Thus, in the event of fire the system will remain operative without suflicient buckling of the runner structure to permit a rupture of the ceiling tiles or other equivalent elements.

FIGS. 8 through 11 illustrate a modified form of the invention which is shown as being applied to a ceiling sys tem of standard type without the features of a fire rated". system. In this construction the interlocking structure on the main runner and interlocking tongues is formed by means of an opening in the tonguef'fqrming an edge which is adapted to engage and interlock with means formed on the main runner.

In this construction the tongue 16' is provided with an opening 27, illustrated as being of generally rectangular shape and forming a horizontally extending lower edge 23". Disposed below the opening 27' is a generally horizontally extending notch 28 which extends longitudinally inwardly, so that it is substantially coextensive with the opening 27. i i

Thecross runner 1e illustrated in FIG. 10 is constructed to receive the tongue of a single runner and is provided with a slot 9' having a width somewhat greater than the thickness of the material forming the tongue 16 and a length which is greater than the distance from the bottom edge of the projection 19' to the top edge of the tongue to provide adequate clearance for reception of the tongue in the slot. Extending inwardly from each side of the slot 9' is a projection 13' having generally horizontally extending bottom edges 14' and inclined edges 15'.

The notch 28 has a height approximately equal to the height of the projections 13', the notch being so disposed on the tongue that the latter may be readily inserted into the notch 9 as illustrated in FIG. 8, the notch 28 being disposed opposite the projections 13', whereby the latter will not interfere with the insertion of the tongue 16. When the tongue has reached its full insertion into the slot 9, the runners will assume the positions illustrated in FIG. 8, following which, upon the application of pressure to the runner 1d in a downward direction, movement of the tongue 16' relative to the web 2 of the cross runner 1e may be effected to bring the runners into the position illustrated in FIG. 9. The projections 13 will then be disposed in the opening 27 of the runner tongue, the bottom edge 23 of the opening 27 being disposed in opposition to the lower edges 14 of the projections 13 to form a rigid interlock between the runners which prevents movement of the tongue 16' upwardly in the slot 9' to a point where it may be withdrawn therefrom.

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. and illustrates a suitable formation of the slot in the cross runner for receiving a pair of runner tongues in. an assembly comparable to that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In this construction the slot 9" is generally H-shaped, the web portion 2 being formed with oppositely disposed vertically extending strips 29, forming two pairs of aligned upper and lower tongue receiving recesses 31 and 31', the recesses 31 being adapted to receive the tongue on one runner and the recesses 31 being adapted to receive the tongue on the other runner. Extending inwardly from opposite sides of the slot 9" are locking projections 13 which are vertically located in the same positions as the projections 13' illustrated in FIG. 10. However, in this construction, each tongue is engaged by only one of the projections 13". In assembling the runners with the cross runners If, each tongue 16 is inserted in its associated recess 31 and 31 until the tongue assumes the position illustrated in FIG. 8, following which the tongue and associated runner are moved downwardly to engage the projections 13" in the associated opening 27 in the runner tongue.

While the slot 9" could be formed similarly to the slot 9, eliminating the strips 29, and thus having a single slot into which both tongues are inserted, the construction illustrated in FIG. 11 facilitates the interlocking of the cooperable elements with a minimum amount of frictional resistance between the parts. Likewise, the construction of FIG. 11 could be employed in the runner illustrated in FIG. 4, whereby each runner 1a and 1/5 is disposed in recesses or slots corresponding to the recesses 31 and 31'.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have provided a novel runner joint structure which eliminates the use of separate interlocking elements such as wire clips and the like and enables the insertion and interlocking of the runners while maintaining the runners in substantially a common plane comparable to the manner of insertion of runners using clips and the like, without requiring angular manipulation of the runner end with respect to the cross runner as is necessary in previous forms of interlocking constructions.

It will also be noted that the present invention readily adapts itself for use in fire rated systems, resulting in an extremely simple and durable construction which is very eflicient for the intended purposes.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A runner joint for connecting oppositely disposed like runner ends of a pair of runners to the intermediate portion of a transversely cooperable runner, -comprising identical tongue members formed on the respective runner ends, said intermediate portion of the transversely extending runner having an opening therein through which said tongue members extend in side-by-side relation, the sides of said opening having a configuration forming opposite disposed inwardly directed identically shaped projections positioned laterally of the adjacent inserted tongue member, cooperable means on said runners for preventing relative movement of said runners in a separating direction along a longitudinal axis of said runners to prevent withdrawal of said tongue members from said opening, said means being engageable by relative vertical movement between said transverse runner and each of said runner ends, and abutment means formed on each of said tongue members engageable with respective cooperable projections on said transverse member when said runners are in their normal engaged positions, operative to normally prevent relative movement of such engaged runners in the opposite vertical direction.

2. A runner joint as defined in claim 1, wherein the projections are formed on opposite walls of said opening in the transversely extending cooperable runner, said projections each having an inclined side edge forming cam means for guiding the projection on the cooperable tongue into locking engagement with the adjacent triangular shaped projection.

3. A runner joint for connecting oppositely disposed like runner ends of a pair of runners to the intermediate portion of a transversely extending cooperable runner, comprising identical tongue members formed on the respective runner ends, said intermediate portion of the transversely extending runner having an opening therein through which said tongue members extend in side-by-side relation, the sides of said opening having a configuration forming oppositely disposed inwardly directed identically shaped projections positioned laterally of the adjacent inserted tongue member, cooperable means on said runners for preventing relative movement of said runners in a separating direction along a longitudinal axis of said runners to prevent withdrawal of said tongue members from said opening but permitting further movement in an inserting direction, said means being engageable by relative vertical movement between said transverse runner and each of said runner ends, abutment means formed on each of said tongue members engageable with respective cooperable projections on said transverse runner when said runners are in their normal engaged positions, operative to normally prevent relative movement of such en- .gaged runners in the opposite vertical direction, and respective means on said runners ends engageable with said transverse runner for normally preventing such further movement of said tongue members in inserting direction, said last mentioned means and said abutment means on the respective runners being deformable upon the application of expansion forces on said pair of runner ends resulting from the application of heat thereto.

4. A runner joint as defined in claim 3- comprising in further combination, opposed bosses disposed on the adjacent faces of said tongue members in aligned engagement, operative to slightly spread the adjacent tongue members.

5. A runner constructed for interlocking with a cooperable runner, comprising a body portion terminating at one longitudinal edge in oppositely disposed flange portions and at its opposite longitudinal edge in a reinforcing member, a longitudinally extending tongue formed on said body portion and extending longitudinally outward therefrom, said tongue being constructed for insertion in an opening in a cooperable runner, and having first means thereon forming a downwardly depending element cooperable with means on such a cooperable runner for preventing withdrawal movement of the tongue from such an opening, and second means on said tongue forming an abutment centrally located on said tongue and cooperable with means on such other runner for preventing move- 7 ment of said tongue in a vertical direction to release first means thereon.

6. A runner as defined in claim 5, wherein said second means comprises a projection, formed from the material of the tongue, which extends angularly outward and upward from one side of the tongue, the upper edge of said projection being cooperable with means on such other runner.

7. A runner constructed for interlocking with a pair of cooperable runners, comprising a body portion terminating at one longitudinal edge in oppositely disposed flange portions and at its opposite longitudinal edge in a reinforcing member, said body portion having an opening therein of a size to receive respective tongues formed on such cooperable runners with said tongues in side-by-side relation, the sides of said opening being formed with inward-1y directed projections extending into the opening, each projectionsbeing disposed for interlocking engagement with the tongue of a respective cooperable runner to prevent relative movement therebetween in a direction transverse to said flange portions.

8. A runner constructed for interlocking with a pair of cooperable runners, comprising a body portion terminating at one longitudinal edge in oppositely disposed flange portions and at its opposite longitudinal edge in a reinforcing member, said body portion having an opening therein of a size to receive respective tongues formed on such cooperable runners with said tongues in side-by-side relation, said opening being formed with an inwardly directed projection of generally triangular shape at each side of said opening, each projection having a bottom edge extending substantially parallel to the plane of said flange portions and having a side edge which is inclined with respect to such plane.

9. A runner joint for connecting an end of a runner to the intermediate portions of a transversely extending cooperable runner, comprising a tongue member formed on such runner end which is disposed in an opening in the intermediate portion of said transverse runner, cooperable engageable means on said runners for preventing relative movement of said runners in separating direction along a longitudinal axis of said runner and to prevent withdrawal of said tongue member from said opening, said means said being engageable by relative vertical movement between said transverse runner and said runner end, the sides of said opening in the transverse runner having a configuration forming inwardly directed projections, and cooperable abutment means formed on said tongue member disposed opposite said projections when the runners are in assembled interlocked relation, the material forming at least one of said projections and abutments being resilient to permit interlocking of said abutmen-ts and projections during the relative movement between said runners to their normal assembled positions.

10. A runner joint as defined in claim 4, wherein the abutment means on said tongue member comprises a projection formed from the material of the tongue member, and extending angularly outward and upward from one side of the tongue member, the upper edge of said projection forming the abutment on said tongue member.

11. A runner joint as defined in claim 10, wherein said projections on the transverse runner are each for-med by two similarly shaped recesses, each is of a size and shape to receive said projection on the tongue of the other runner, one recess being disposed to receive such projection during insertion of said tongue in said opening, and the other being disposed to receive such projection, when the runners are interlocked.

12. A runner joint as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the respective projections on said transversely extending cooperable runner is of triangular shape having a bottom edge extending substantially horizontal and forming an abutment thereon.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,903,104 9/1959 Brown 18936 FOREIGN PATENTS 656,186 1/1963 Canada.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Examiner.

L. R. RADANOVIC, A. I. BREIER,

Assistant Examiners, 

8. A RUNNER CONSTRUCTED FOR INTERLOCKING WITH A PAIR OF COOPERABLE RUNNERS, COMPRISING A BODY PORTION TERMINATING AT ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE IN OPPOSITELY DISPOSED FLANGE PORTIONS AND AT ITS OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL EDGE IN A REINFORCING MEMBER, SAID BODY PORTION HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN OF A SIZE TO RECEIVE RESPECTIVE TONGUES FORMED ON SUCH COOPERABLE RUNNERS WITH SAID TONGUES IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION, SAID OPENING BEING FORMED WITH AN INWARDLY DIRECTED PROJECTION OF GENERALLY TRIANGULAR SHAPE AT EACH SIDE OF SAID OPENING, EACH PROJECTION HAVING A BOTTOM EDGE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID FLANGE PORTIONS AND HAVING A SIDE EDGE WHICH IS INCLINED WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PLANE. 